Circular Saws Reviews ConsumerSearch.com
Fast Answers - Best Circular Saws
|
Top Rated |
What the Research Says |
|
Milwaukee 6394-21 |
Reviews praise the 7.25-inch |
|
Sears Craftsman 10871 |
This 13-amp, 7.25-inch Craftsman circular saw lacks a blade brake and can't match the power of more expensive saws, but owners say it does a fine job on most homeowner projects. Reviews praise its laser guide and dual LED lights, and it comes with a carbide-tipped blade. Unlike quite a few budget circular saws, this one can make beveled cuts up to 54.5 degrees. The warranty is for one year. |
|
Milwaukee V28 0730-22 |
Reviews say this 28-volt lithium-ion-powered circular saw has as much power as a corded saw, but weighs less at only 9.4 pounds. It offers the same excellent balance, comfort and solid construction as other |
|
Makita BSS610 LXT |
Lighter weight cordless circular saw. If 18-volt power is enough, reviews say this lighter 7.1-pound lithium-ion-powered circular saw is especially comfortable for users with small hands. The saw provides a laser guide and dual LED lights, as well as a blower to clear dust off the line. The batteries recharge in 45 minutes, and the saw comes with a three-year warranty. Reviews also praise the four-piece Makita LXT400 kit (*est. $650), which includes a hammer drill/driver, work light and impact driver, along with the circular saw. (compare prices) |
|
Ryobi P500 |
Reviews say the 5.5-inch Ryobi P500 circular saw is the best budget cordless saw, but it's really only recommended for light-duty occasional use. The 18-volt Ryobi has a carbide-tipped blade, laser guide, onboard blade wrench and comfortable handle. The bevel adjusts only to 45 degrees, which might not be enough for your projects. The P500 can be purchased as part of a kit of tools that all share the same battery, such as the six-piece Ryobi P861 (*est. $200), which also includes a drill, sander, reciprocating saw, two batteries, charger and more. This saw comes with a two-year warranty. (compare prices) |
|
DeWalt DW378GK |
The DeWalt DW378GK is a hypoid saw with the motor mounted behind the blade. This makes for better cutting-line visibility and less risk of kickback. Hypoid saws are heavier than most sidewinder saws, but some experts say added weight can be an advantage when sawing sheet stock on a horizontal surface. The 13-pound DeWalt DW378GK is light for this type of saw (though quite a bit heavier than the saws above). Reviews praise its performance, durability and convenient rafter hook. It comes with a three-year warranty, plus a 90-day "no questions asked" return option. (compare prices) |
Full Story
What the experts say, our analysis, and more...
Updated December 2007
Circular saws are useful for cutting lumber, plywood, posts or even metal. You can make beveled cuts as on a compound miter saw, and with the addition of guide rails, its possible to make long straight cuts that would otherwise require a table saw. (ConsumerSearch has separate reports on miter saws and table saws .)
We found the most comprehensive circular saw review at Consumer Reports, where editors rate 32 models based on objective tests, including a few cordless circular saws. An even more recent review at Popular Mechanics compares eleven corded circular saws, covering fewer models, but with more detail about each. Surprisingly, neither review pays much attention to safety issues such as blade brakes -- nor to the newest cordless circular saws that are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Woodworking and construction publications, including Fine Homebuilding, the Journal of Light Construction and Tools of the Trade Online do cover safety issues thoroughly, and Tools of the Trade provides excellent comparison tests of eight lithium-ion-powered cordless circular saws. These batteries offer quite a few advantages over the NiCd and NiMH batteries that power most cordless power tools. For example, lithium-ion batteries maintain their charge better during storage, meaning you'll be less likely to find a drained battery in your cordless saw.
Ads by GoogleBest House PaintCalifornia PaintBest Circular SawConsumer Rating
Most people who buy a cordless circular saw will also want other cordless tools that use the same batteries and charger. We cover cordless combo kits in our report on cordless drills, but circular saws are usually the weak point in kits.
There's a certain irony in the power tool market. For occasional use by homeowners, many reviews recommend less expensive circular saws, reserving the more durable "pro" brands for professionals who use them daily. Yet experts say that it's the less frequent users who need safety features most -- such as a blade brake (to stop the blade within seconds after the trigger is released).
We are noticing some improvements in budget circular saws, since nearly all now come with carbide-tipped blades. However, recent tests at Popular Mechanics show that the least expensive circular saws make it much harder to make accurate cuts or to follow a long cutting line, even with a guide rail. So, for hobby woodworking or do-it-yourself construction projects, it will be less frustrating to invest a bit more in better circular saw. Reviews recommend consumer-brand circular saws -- such as those made by Black & Decker, Craftsman, Ryobi and Skil -- only for occasional rough cuts where precision doesn't matter, and where the user is paying extra attention to safety. ... Continued
>> Full story continued...
>> Circular Saws prices
Consensus Report
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.
|
# of picks |
Corded Circular Saws |
Details from Amazon.com |
|
5 |
||
|
4 |
Ridgid R3200 sidewinder (*est. $100) |
|
|
3 |
- | |
|
3 |
- | |
|
3 |
||
|
3 |
Ridgid R3210 worm-drive (*est. $170) |
- |
|
2 |
- | |
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
- | |
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
Ridgid Fuego sidewinder (*est. $140) |
- |
|
2 |
||
|
1 each |
Sidewinder saws: Craftsman 10871, Craftsman Pro 25817, Festool TS 75 EQ , Hitachi C7BD , Makita 5007FK , Porter-Cable MAG , Ryobi CSB121K, Skil 5755 , Skil HD5510 . Hypoid: Makita 5277NB . | |
|
# of picks |
Cordless Circular Saws |
Details from Amazon.com |
|
8 |
28v Milwaukee 0730-22 (*est. $370 with charger and two batteries) |
|
|
5 |
||
|
3 |
||
|
1 each |
Craftsman11578, 36v DeWalt DC300K, Hilti | |
|
# of picks |
Cordless Combo Kits |
Details from Amazon.com |
|
6 |
||
|
4 |
||
|
2 |
||
|
2 |
18v Ryobi P840 (*est. $160) |
- |
|
1 each |
Bosch CPK40-18, Craftsman 11404, Craftsman 11514, lithium-ion Craftsman 26325, Hitachi KC18DVF, Makita MForce DK 1052DL, 18v Milwaukee 0902-28, 18v Milwaukee 0925-24, Ridgid R922, Skil 2887-20, Skil 2887-16, Ryobi P861 | |
Among corded circular saws, Ridgid models are challenging the better-established
>> Full story continued...
>> Comparison Chart
